Lexington, Va. -- Jeremy Banks hit two home runs, and the Youngstown State baseball team scored nine times in the final two innings to beat VMI 10-2 on Sunday at Gray-Minor Stadium.
Banks and Marcus Heath both drove in four runs, and the Penguins played well in all facets of the game. They had 13 hits, did not commit an error and got strong pitching from Pat Shedlock and Nic Manuppelli.
Both of Banks' two hits on the day left the park, and Heath also had two hits for YSU, which enjoyed its first win of the season. Five total Penguins had two hits apiece.
Shedlock allowed two runs on four hits and three walks in six innings while striking out four to keep the Penguins close in what was originally a pitchers' duel. Manuppelli allowed just one hit and one walk while fanning two in three innings to earn the win.
"Shedlock did an outstanding job today of giving us what we needed," YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. "Manuppelli was awesome after being out for a while."
"Words cannot describe what JB (Banks) does for this team," Pasquale added. "He is a special person. His leadership on and off the field is second to none."
Banks hit a two-out solo homer in the first to give YSU a 1-0 lead, and that stood until VMI scored twice in the third. Nick Dwyer and Gary LeClair started the inning with back-to-back doubles to knot the game, and LeClair scored on a ground out to give VMI a 2-1 lead.
Shedlock allowed just a walk and an infield single over the next three innings, and he struck out the side in the sixth to end a solid day.
Manuppelli worked around a one-out double in the seventh to keep the score 2-1, and the Penguins erupted for their largest outburst of the season with a five-run eighth. Jason Shirley led off with a single to left center, and Drew Dosch drew a five-pitch walk to set the stage for Banks. Reliever Michael Devine came in to pitch, and Banks greeted him with a three-run homer to left on a 1-1 pitch to put the Penguins up 4-2. Marcus Heath then doubled in Craig Goubeaux three batters later, and Heath scored on a Kevin Hix RBI single.
In the ninth, Goubeaux drew a bases-loaded walk, and Heath blew the game open with a three-run double that plated Goubeaux, Banks and Dosch.
Travis Thomas took the loss for VMI, allowing two runs in two innings of relief. Each of VMI's six pitchers allowed at least one run.
YSU will remain in Virginia to play at Norfolk State on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
